In the early 1950’s, mill worker Hysen Chelo purchased a piece of property as an investment.  Hysen’s four children thought that land investments were foolish and envisioned a restaurant on that site to support their growing families.  Louis, Amet, Benjamin, and James decided that they could construct the restaurant themselves and in 1952 began building what would become Chelo’s Steak House in Cumberland, RI.  The opening in 1955 was the beginning of what has developed into Rhode Island’s largest family-owned restaurant chain, today totaling nine locations throughout the state currently known as Chelo’s Hometown Bar & Grille.

The original Chelo’s Steak House was designed with an open kitchen, visible to their guests, with table and counter service provided in the front of the restaurant.  Burgers were cooked on a special grill, designed by the Chelo’s, which sealed in the natural juices and flavor of the ground beef.  The ground beef blend was chosen after exhaustive testing of blends from different distributors.  The blend chosen is still used to this day.  Chelo’s took the same care in the selection of the fresh fish used in their famous Fish & Chips.  Desserts were made fresh daily in the restaurant and quickly became neighborhood favorites.  New menu additions were selected with the same concern for quality, taste, and freshness as their original menu.  Chelo’s Steak House soon gained a reputation for consistent, high quality food, reasonable prices, and a kid-friendly family atmosphere.

As Chelo’s Hometown Bar & Grille has continued to grow, a commissary was built in Warwick, RI to insure the continuation of the quality and consistency that had contributed to Chelo’s outstanding reputation.  Their commissary is capable of supplying all nine locations with fresh baked breads, soups, sauces, desserts, and specials delivered to each restaurant on a daily basis.  The commissary follows secret family recipes using the freshest ingredients supplied by local producers, many of them the original suppliers to the first Chelo’s Steak House.  Chelo’s commissary also prepares, cooks, and serves guests’ dinner selections in their Warwick Banquet Facility as well as their newest venture, off-site catering.

Throughout the years, Chelo’s has employed local residents in each of their locations, many of whom have been with the company for over 30 years and were hired as young adults.   Chelo’s has provided them with the training, knowledge, and opportunity to advance while promoting family values; at times, entire families worked for the company.  Today, over 1,000 Rhode Island and Southeastern Massachusetts residents are valued employees of Chelo’s.  Chelo’s commitment to family reaches beyond their employees and extends into the neighborhood community.

Chelo’s community involvement starts in their Cranston and Woonsocket locations with coin operated trains that encircle a dining area whose proceeds are donated to Meeting Street and the Paget’s Disease Foundation.  Community involvement expands to include all Chelo’s Hometown Bar & Grille’s with the annual Chelo’s Golf Classic, recently celebrating it’s 19th year, to benefit Meeting Street Center in East Providence.  Chelo’s employees and their business partners have donated over $150,000 throughout the years.  Chelo’s also supports various charities such as raising money for Juvenile Diabetes, Muscular Dystrophy, Rhode Special Olympics and participation in the Annual Aquafina Taste of RI event that benefits local charities.  Chelo’s sponsors neighborhood youth athletic leagues and participates in granting wishes for the Make-A-Wish Foundation.  Chelo’s has also donated a percentage of the monthly proceeds of dessert sales to RI Family Works.

Chelo’s has participated in the Schweppes Great Chowder Cook-Off, who have voted Chelo’s clam cakes #1 in Rhode Island, for the last three out of four years, have verified Chelo’s commitment to quality.  Previous year’s visitors have voted Chelo’s seafood chowder into the Chowder Hall of Fame by virtue of two consecutive first place wins in the Creative Chowder category.  Rhode Island Monthly magazine’s Best of RI poll has awarded Chelo’s Hometown Bar & Grille first place in categories such as Best Burger, Best Place to take the Kids, Best Bargain Dining, Best Chowder and Clam Cakes, and Best Margaritas.

Chelo’s recipe for success includes extensive training for all levels of employees.  Each manager is required to attend the National Restaurant Association’s 2-day ServSafe course and is certified by the State of Rhode Island in Food Safety.  Their guests can enjoy the peace of mind that comes from knowing their dinners have been safely prepared and cooked following nationally recommended procedures.  All managers, bartenders, and servers are required to complete a formal training course in alcohol awareness.  These safety courses, as well as extensive preparatory courses for each position, make Chelo employees some of the most valuable in the restaurant business.

Function facilities are available in Cranston, East Providence, Woonsocket, Warwick, Newport Avenue, and Chelo’s Waterfront restaurant, that can be utilized year-round for private and business needs.  Other Chelo’s Hometown Bar & Grilles are located in Greenville, Warwick and Providence.  The corporate offices are located at 1725 Mendon Road, Suite 209, in Cumberland, RI.  Chelo’s Restaurants are members of the Greater Providence Chamber of Commerce and the Rhode Island Hospitality and Tourism Association.